Night trains in Spain

[Jack Christensen]

Marty,
I took the "Talgo" night train from Santiago to Madrid in May.  Although I'm
a man, some Danish women friends were traveling on the same train.  Men and
women were placed in separate compartments which can be locked.  There was
also an attendent on the car.  I noticed her dozing on an uncomfortable fold
down seat when I went to the bathroom in the night.  So, I know nothing of
the story you mentioned, but reasonable precautions seem to be in place and
none of the European women I traveled with seemed concerned.  Although I was
in a compartment with 3 other men, I noted that there were single
compartments on the train which you could consider. If you're really
concerned, take a plane.  They fly frequently and the cost isn't
unreasonable. Plus, if you time it right and don't want to see Madrid,
you're already at the airport to take your return flight home.

Jack
-----Original Message-----
From: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage [mailto:GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu]On
Behalf Of Marty Robinson
Sent: Thursday, June 14, 2001 8:19 PM
To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
Subject: Night trains in Spain


I am a woman planning to take a night train back to Madrid after
walking from Leon to Santiago in July.  Does anyone know if there's
any truth to the story I heard of women being drugged with chloroform
while asleep then robbed - or worse?  I'm feeling a little anxious as
I begin to make plans at the completion of my pilgrimage.
Marty
---- Original Message -----
From: Delphia Dirks <delphiadaEARTHLINK.NET>
To: <GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu>
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2001 5:23 PM
Subject: Re: Learning Spanish


> for a quick-fix on Spanish try Parlo.com  the "Travel Spanish"
lessons are
> very useful---   live coversations with native speakers and the
basic
> essentials for 'getting around' in spanish.   Just a beginning, but
it will
> help a lot... other courses available too.
>
> The (french)  ASSIMIL  book/tape teaching method is also very good.
>
> just put  "spanish language lessons" in the search box (yahoo or
wherever) ,
> and you'll have the problem of deciding which one to take!    buena
suerte!
> delphia dirks
>
> _________________
>
>
> > From: Ted Kayes <tckayesaEARTHLINK.NET>
> > Reply-To: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage <GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu>
> > Date: Thu, 24 May 2001 22:31:44 -0700
> > To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
> > Subject: Learning Spanish
> >
> > A number of messages have asked about learning Spanish and my
experience to
> > date may be of some interest.
> > I am two years from my anticipated pilgrimage and in preparation
have begun
> > learning Spanish using Pimsleur tapes.
> > I have been working my way through them over the last six months
and
> > actually feel that in two more years I shall have a pretty good
> > understanding of the language.
> > The Pimsleur tapes are focused on correct pronunciation and the
first 14
> > tapes have very little of the written language.
> > It is not a quick study, but I only do it 2 to 4 days per week;
clearly it
> > can be done more quickly.  They recommend only about 30 minutes
per day and
> > I normally stick to that.
> >
> > Ted